Rufio the Hallmark Dog

Chicagoans will get a chance to meet one of the world's most popular dogs, when Rufio, the star behind Rufio's Rumblings, makes a couple of appearances in the area.

Rufio, a Neopolitan Mastiff, took a break from posing for greeting cards to visit the ABC7 studio with his owners, who talked about the upcoming events and some of Rufio's work.

Owners Kathryn and Rick Dunlap got Rufio from a breeder in Indianapolis when he was just two months old, weighing 11 ounces. Rufio won his first Hallmark contest at the age of five months. Since then, Rufio's Rumblings have been featured on 17 Hallmark greeting cards. He now weighs 145 lbs.

"He's very good at photos. He will stand completely still. We use hand signals, and the only thing that'll move is the tip of his tail wags. So, I know he's happy," Kathryn Dunlap said.

The Dunlaps told ABC7's Hosea Sanders Rufio would make appearances at Stella's Bar and Grill Charity Bike Run for Animals in Romeoville, Ill. on August 21, which benefits the Romeoville Humane Society and at the 8th Annual Mutt Strut on Saturday, October 8 in Wrigleyville. That event benefits the Chicago Canine Rescue.

Rufio was also recently selected as a Chippendog, and he'll appear in posters in the classic bowtie and cuffs, which can be found through Big Dogs Huge Paws.

"He just puts a lot of smiles on a lot of kids. Everybody sees him, and he just touches a lot of people," said Rick Dunlap.